Musar zu Bereschit 44:16

But, in truth, all this was "measure for measure." Because of their sitting to eat bread when Joseph was in the pit, it was decreed upon them to also sit and eat bread under terrifying circumstances, until Judah himself said (Ibid. 44:16): "What shall we speak and how shall we justify ourselves? G-d has found out the sin of your servants." [And he, taking upon himself the din of Heaven, as it were,] — "Behold, we are slaves to my lord, etc." And with this, he averts the essential din for the selling [of Joseph]. [And though Joseph is not yet reconciled in this parshah and says (Ibid. 17): "The man in whose hand the goblet is found — he shall be my servant. And you, go up in peace to your father," Judah does not agree to this, viz. (Ibid. 18): "And Judah drew near to him," until the end of the episode, (Ibid. 45:1): "And Joseph could not restrain himself, etc."]